Oak Park River Forest takes on Oswego tonight at 5:30 p.m.—and it’s incredible to see so many local athletes representing our amazing softball town! I'm especially proud to see current and former Practice Pro pitchers on the roster: Anna Topel, Georgia Godellas, Leia Hammerschmidt, Arielle Spurlock, Avery Lane, Gloria Hronek, Gabrielle Chesney, Julia Mattiace, and Carolyn Rainey.

Even though they aren’t all still pitchers, we are proud of you and the rest of the team and are cheering for you every step of the way! Our mission has always been to make Illinois the BEST state for softball in the country. Whether an athlete trains with us for one session, five years (or even not at all), we believe that increasing access to quality instruction and passion for the game has a ripple effect across the state.

The rise of elite talent in Oak Park and surrounding areas

I came across a really powerful Instagram post from @dr3fastpitch and didn’t want it to get lost in the scroll—so I’m sharing it here as a blog. It’s worth taking a moment to read and showing your daughter.

When a teammate makes an error, I often ask pitchers, “What should you do as a pitcher in that moment?” Most of the time, they’ll say something like, “I’ll tell the first basemen that it’s okay, you’ll get it next time.” That’s supportive—but there’s an even more powerful response I learned as a college pitcher.

My coach taught me to respond with, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ll strike the next girl out for you.” And then go out and do it.

With the NCAA Women’s College World Series kicking off yesterday, I wanted to share a special story that was sent to us by Brad Albers, dad of Elisabeth Albers from Hamlin Park Lions 10U team. Elisabeth’s grandmother, Cindy Albers, has an incredible softball legacy—she played in the very first Women’s College World Series in 1969!

Her hometown newspaper featured a great article in 2022 about her journey and her role as a pioneer in a tournament that’s now watched by over 1.1 million people. It’s wild to think how far the game has come—and how women like Cindy helped lay the foundation.

A few things stood out to me from the article. Her attitude was truly inspiring.

In the last 10 years, only one team in the DI WCWS had pitchers from Illinois on it. As far as high school competition, the IHSA used to have a state bracket in which the winner of the city tournament went directly downstate. Unfortunately, the city schools lost too many games by too much of a margin, so they began to mix the city conference with the near suburbs to make the championships more competitive. The city's conference is improving though, with Marist winning 3 state championships since 2010 and a few schools sending players to university with softball scholarships.

11. “My daughter will reach her full potential by playing in local travel tournaments and on a city high school team. Illinois competition is enough to elevate her to the NCAA or the state finals.”

“I’ll start training three months before the season in January. I’m only 10 and have other sports. I’m not trying to be Monica Abbott.”

I hear you! But remember Misconception #3? The chart we shared there applies to every athlete—regardless of age, talent, or how many activities they juggle. Whether she plays piano, basketball, or is acing her schoolwork, improvement takes consistent reps. Ideally, 4 days per week.

That said, it’s totally fine to pitch part-time, as long as your expectations match your effort. Pitching is one of the few sports that can be practiced solo—10 minutes a day throwing socks into a wall can add up. I often say, “Pitching is her other number one sport.” Even on a busy day, there’s something she can do.

The word “hitting” often emphasizes the physical side of the game: stance, mechanics, timing, and power. But the term “batting” encompasses more. Batting includes the entire mental process that leads up to, and supports, the act of hitting; that shift in language AND mindset can change everything.  In simple Practice Pro Pitching terminology- it’s the difference in becoming a pitcher from a thrower, just on the offensive side of the ball.

I’m Coach Marisa, and I just couldn’t be happier about being the newest addition to the Practice Pro team! I’m super excited to have the opportunity to work with young players on their journeys to greatness within the sport of softball. I look forward to getting to know each of you as I put forth my best efforts to aid and empower you into becoming great batters and confident women.  

I’m sure some of you noticed that I used the word “batters” instead of “hitters”- very astute if you did! I firmly believe that there is a distinction that can be made, and for those of you who join my offensive classes, you are going to learn, execute, and dominate because of those important nuances.

From “just throw strikes” to “you need to master a fastball first,” there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about how what to teach a pitcher when developing her. Many of these beliefs are so common they feel like fact—especially for beginners. But here’s the thing: softball pitching is full of counterintuitive concepts, and the common beliefs often miss the mark.

Let’s clear the air. Here are the first 6 of 14 misconceptions we hear all the time—and why they’re holding pitchers back.

Welcome to the Ultimate Glossary of Pitching Terms, brought to you by Practice Pro. Save it, share it, and use it anytime you’re wondering what a coach, parent, or player is talking about.

🔑 Fundamental Terms

Stride – The forward step the pitcher takes toward home plate as part of her delivery.

Power Line – An imaginary line running from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate. Pitchers aim to stay aligned with this during the stride to maximize power and direction.

Once the season starts, everything shifts.

The intensity ramps up, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error shrinks. What worked during the offseason doesn’t always translate directly into game-day performance unless practices are adjusted to mirror real play. At Practice Pro, we believe that what happens in training should reflect the demands of competition. That means, when you're in-season, your practice environment has to look, feel, and challenge you like the game itself.

Drills and reps still matter—but now more than ever, how you practice matters just as much as what you practice.

So how do you create game-like situations during practice? Here are some ways to make each session more intentional, competitive, and connected to what athletes will actually face on in the circle.

High school season is here—which means hot days, quadruple-headers, long car rides, and a whole lot of competing. For pitchers, it’s an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) time of year. So how do you make sure you're not just surviving the season... but thriving through it?

Here are 5 things I wish I would have known before I played in high school. Every pitcher should be doing to stay ready, recover fast, and show up confident every time they take the circle.

1. Have a Pre-Game Routine That Grounds You
It doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be consistent. Whether it’s arm circle breakdowns, 7-minute warm-up, or a dynamic warm-up, doing the same prep before each game helps your body feel physically ready and your brain feel locked in. It also helps you focus on your game, no matter who’s in the other dugout.

We’re officially in the in-season (April–July)—the most exciting time of year! This is when pitchers finally get to apply everything they've worked on during the offseason and preseason to live games. But just because you're in the heat of competition doesn’t mean practice stops. In fact, how you train during the season is just as important as how you perform.

Each season requires a different mix of pitching workouts. In-season training depends heavily on game workload: how many games you're pitching, how many innings you're throwing, and how your arm is feeling. Managing fatigue and staying sharp are the name of the game.

Why Offseason Work Still Matters

During the offseason (October–December), pitchers have the freedom to push, experiment, and rebuild. There’s no pressure to be game-ready, which makes it the ideal time to:

Back in 2015, when I was running Chicagoland Baseball & Softball Academy’s softball program, I worked with a great coach who emphasized the importance of players understanding the game, not just playing it. My baseball counterpart had a simple yet insightful idea—he wanted the boys to coach first base so they could develop a better feel for the game.

He gave them some basic guidance and sent them out there. But to his surprise, they struggled. Even with clear instructions, they just couldn’t grasp what to do. He was baffled—when he was a kid, coaching first base was second nature.

So many challenges, frustrations, and disappointments—whether for coaches, players, or parents—stem from vague expectations and a lack of communication throughout the season. Inspired by these teams and my own coaching experience, I’ve put together a set of guiding principles for pitchers. These rules help ensure that every pitcher understands her role, stays accountable, and approaches the game with the right mindset.

At every age leading up to college softball recruiting, coaches suggest getting a realistic assessment of your skills. Everyone wants to know, do I have what it takes? Go to college games to observe the level of play. Ask instructors and coaches what you realistically need to improve on.